PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) has become the gold standard when it comes to third-party grading of sports cards, especially for vintage and modern baseball cards. Founded in 2000 by Steve Grad and Joe Orlando, PSA pioneered the concept of having cards professionally graded and authenticated to establish official mint condition grades.
When submitting baseball cards to be graded by PSA, there are a few important factors to consider. First, you’ll need to select the appropriate service level for the turnaround time you need. Standard service takes 4-6 weeks on average while express options are available for faster 1-2 week grading though they cost more. Shipping and insurance is also required given the value often involved in vintage cards being submitted.
Once received, the grading process at PSA is extremely thorough. Multiple trained graders will carefully inspect each card under brightly lit conditions using powerful magnifying lenses. They are analyzing things like centering, corners, edges and surface for any flaws that could detract from the potential numerical mint grade. Higher numbers on the familiar 1-10 PSA grading scale indicate nearer mint condition with no wear.
For vintage cards especially, even subtle print defects or production flaws from the original issuers decades ago can prevent a true gem mint 10 designation. Many scarce pre-war tobacco issues for example often max out around PSA 8 due to natural aging characteristics even in the best preserved examples. Similarly, papers used during the early modern era were also prone to staining, chipping or other defects no matter how carefully stored.
After individual inspection, submitted cards are then cross-referenced between grading team members to ensure grading consistency and any discrepancies reconciled. Final numerical grades are assigned once a consensus is reached with accompanying textual condition descriptors like “Mint” or “Near Mint-Mint” added for clarity. PSA also thoroughly researches every issue to properly identify notable printing varieties, error cards, parallel sets and more.
Perhaps the most prominent factor that has driven PSA to the top of the card grading industry is their strict handling of quality control and authentication duties. Each team of graders undergoes extensive training protocols including taking certification exams. After grading, cards are then hermetically sealed within tamper proof plastic slabs etched with the PSA brand name, issue details, and all important numeric grade. This helps deter counterfeiting and confirms the grading attribution to potential buyers and collectors.
While PSA has earned their top position, the large volume of cards now regularly sent their way for grading has led to mounting wait times and higher costs. As an alternative, another respected third party authenticator Beckett Grading Services (BGS) formed in 1992 and offers grading services with faster turnaround at somewhat lower cost than PSA. Where BGS mainly differs is with their centering scales implemented on a more generous 0-3 tiered system versus PSA’s finer 1-10 scoring. Both still demand a premium over raw ungraded cards in the marketplace.
For newly pulled rookies, parallels, and insert cards from modern sets being submitted, PSA’s “POP” report feature further increases demand. This data provides the total population of a specific card graded at each PSA level, essentially establishing rarity and desirability. Low pop 1st edition rookie PSA 10’s like Mike Trout or recent Mookie Betts can fetch staggering five figure prices and climb rapidly for elite vintage examples as well.
While grading is a cost investment, it makes sense for valuable vintage cards or those intended for long term preservation and resale. Certified high grade baseballs from the sport’s earliest decades in the late 1800s through the 1950s can appreciate significantly over time and realize auction price tags in the hundreds of thousands depending on the superstar player featured. Even well known stars from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s find themselves climbing steadily as nostalgia grows and collectors age.
The huge influx of modern card submissions and population reporting over recent years risks artificially inflating PSA 10 values in the short term for arbitrary print runs which may lack the proven collectibility of vintage. Investors would be wise to focus on true investment grade pre-war and early post-war hall of famers rather than assume lightning can strike twice on the long tail of recent players graded ultra high. There’s a reason PSA 10 Hank Aaron rookie cards remain the most coveted vintage baseball issue.
As the hobby market leader PSA established the framework for trusted third party grading that provides a credible stamp of authenticity and quality evaluation coveted by serious vintage collectors and investors. While Beckett remains a viable alternative, PSA’s proven reputation, extensive population reporting, and high standards make them the preferred choice for important submissions. Ultimately, pristine condition examples from key noteworthy eras and players of the game remain where true long term value potential resides.